Background: To limit disease transmission, measures in the community’s behavior to curb the COVID-19 transmission include avoiding public places, reducing direct contact, using masks, and improving hand hygiene behavior. The latter will be the focus of this study. Hand hygiene is one of the most simple, inexpensive, yet effective ways to control the transmission of various infectious diseases, especially those related to gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases. Although its importance has been substantially proven, adherence to proper hand hygiene practices is still low, especially in developing countries including Indonesia.
Aim: This study aims to see whether there are significant changes in the hand hygiene behavior of the Indonesian community after the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the occurrence of gastrointestinal infections symptoms.
Method: The design of this study is observational analytic using cross sectional method. A questionnaire was used as the research instrument and was distributed through social media. Data were obtained using the convenience sampling method. Data analysis utilized STATA and included bivariate analysis using the Chi-square test of independence. Subsequently, logistic regression was used for multivariate analysis.
Results: The questionnaire was distributed from February to April 2021 and 716 respondents were successfully recruited. Based on the data obtained, there was a significant increase in handwashing frequency as well as the respondents’ adherence and attitude when cleaning hands. Handwashing frequency on itself does not have significant effects on any gastrointestinal symptoms. However, better adherence and attitude decreased the occurrence of diarrhea (OR=0.58, CI=0.39-0.86), nausea (OR=0.71, CI=0.50 -0.99), vomiting (OR=0.37, CI=0.21-0.65), and abdominal pain (OR=0.64, CI=0.47-0.87).
Conclusion: Within the Indonesian community, hand hygiene behavior improved after the COVID-19 pandemic. Higher adherence and better attitudes were associated with reduced occurrences of diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. |